If you received a letter from your older self, what do you think it would say? What do you wish it would say?

That the boy you were crushing on in History turns out to be gay too, and that you become boyfriends in college? That the bully who is making your life miserable will one day become so insignificant thatLife-saving letters from a glittering wishlist of top authors.

If you received a letter from your older self, what do you think it would say? What do you wish it would say?

That the boy you were crushing on in History turns out to be gay too, and that you become boyfriends in college? That the bully who is making your life miserable will one day become so insignificant that you won't remember his name until he shows up at your book signing?

In this anthology, sixty-three award-winning authors such as Michael Cunningham, Amy Bloom, Jacqueline Woodson, Gregory Maguire, David Levithan, and Armistead Maupin make imaginative journeys into their pasts, telling their younger selves what they would have liked to know then about their lives as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgendered people. Through stories, in pictures, with bracing honesty, these are words of love and understanding, reasons to hold on for the better future ahead. They will tell you things about your favorite authors that you never knew before. And they will tell you about yourself....more

The Letter Q is a series of letters written from several gay authors to their younger selves. Many of these letter are affirmations, positive declarations about who the younger person will become. This collection is edited by Sarah Moon.

Within the pages of this slim book the reader will find 64 of the most provocative, sad, enlightening, inspiring tales you may ever read. The tales vacillate from comic to tragic and all of the in-betweens. I found a little bit of wisdom to come out of ever singThe Letter Q is a series of letters written from several gay authors to their younger selves. Many of these letter are affirmations, positive declarations about who the younger person will become. This collection is edited by Sarah Moon.

Within the pages of this slim book the reader will find 64 of the most provocative, sad, enlightening, inspiring tales you may ever read. The tales vacillate from comic to tragic and all of the in-betweens. I found a little bit of wisdom to come out of ever single story, but there are some that are simply more memorable than others. This is a very wonderful book and a great approach to widening the impact of the Gay rights movement.

Every teen should read this, not just the teens who think (or know) they might be gay. The stories in here touch upon many social issues that teens are faced with from day to day - peer pressure, bullying, unrequited love, rejection, the stress of college applications and achievement, ambivalent parents, fight or flight friends, love and sex - like I said, these issues have faced us all at one point in our adolescence. Where the authors succeed is in pointing out that these are not just Queer experiences. These things are human experiences and that single point alone should blur any political differences that one orientation has between another. We're all human and as such we are all entitled to live and love and make mistakes and overcome, and, at the heart of it, that's what this book is meant to do - remind us all that we must overcome the grueling period of our teens.

I loved this book. It's perfect. I'll be passing it on to every teen I know regardless of confusing orientation. Anyone will get something out of this one.

David Levithan's essay was so hilarious yet sweet and honest - will now be looking for some of his writing A good mixture of humour, sadness and anger The message of hope and forgiveness is so prevalent and beautifully and honestly done Very powerful and inspiring Brian Selznick's essay was extremely funny and tender Martin Moran's essay is heartbreaking, so brave to have told his story - such strength of character and a very inspiring story to those LGBT youths with thoughts of suThe Good Stuff

David Levithan's essay was so hilarious yet sweet and honest - will now be looking for some of his writing A good mixture of humour, sadness and anger The message of hope and forgiveness is so prevalent and beautifully and honestly done Very powerful and inspiring Brian Selznick's essay was extremely funny and tender Martin Moran's essay is heartbreaking, so brave to have told his story - such strength of character and a very inspiring story to those LGBT youths with thoughts of suicide Wise and non preachy advice for helping kids who are struggling with their sexuality

The Not So Good Stuff

Brutal to hear of parents & educators abuse of children over something as natural as sexual preference

Favorite Quotes/Passages

""I'm still not entirely sure whether I use the word irony correctly, but I believe there's something exquisitely ironic about making fun of your non-gay teacher for being gay, and then going home and listening to Barbara Streisand's Broadway Album over and over again." David Levithan

"Yes, the indignities you suffer at the hands of bigots can make you bitter. But they can also strengthen your ability to empathize with the oppressed, and in doing so, enlarge the capacity of your heart." Doug Wright

"You will discover that all gay men are not stylish, witty, promiscuous, and viciously entertaining. No one said that equality was going to be fun." Paul Rudnick

"I hear you say, I want to die, and it tears at my sould that you're only thirteen and ready to give up on life." and "No! Don't get back at everyone by dying. Get back at them by living and saving lives, starting with your own. Fight for your life." Mayra Lazara Dole

Who Should/Shouldn't Read

For teens of ALL genders and sexuality -- the message of believing and loving yourself apply to everyone and not just those struggling with their sexuality My Uncle should have read this and maybe he would have loved and accepted his son no matter of Bruce's sexual preference. My cousin told his Dad that he was gay and my Uncle never spoke to him again. My Dad became a surrogate father to Bruce and tried to help him but ultimately Bruce's life was cut short by the acts of self-hatred and abuse (Drugs, alcohol, dangerous sexual partners, etc) caused by his fathers abandonment. This should be in every public and school library so kids struggling can hear the message of hope that you will get through this from those who have Required reading for ALL educators and parents

5 Dewey's

I received this from Scholastic in exchange for an honest review

My advice to my younger self

Michael Tinker is never going to go for you - get over him Michael Corsini is MARRIED - he is scum for not telling you this -- but hey the man who ended up defending you and giving your friends hell - you end of marrying and having two beautiful heathens with him (And BTW he's moving you to Calgary next month so you might want to think about getting over your hatred of country music) Stop with the diet pills, they are going to fuck up your digestive system for life -- you are beautiful the way you are Stop pretending to be someone else so people will like you -- accept who you are and love yourself for that and people will actually like the real you Don't sleep with all those divers -- they are not going to love you -- they just want in your pants and you will hate yourself for it Don't have a fight with your Dad the night before he goes on vacation to Bermuda -- he dies there and you will not be able to tell him you are sorry and how lucky you were to have such an exceptional (and completely wacky) guy for a Dad Get over your fear of driving (sorry snorter porter -- you still got to work on that one) What that man did was wrong, he abused his position of power and it was not your fault! For gods sake you are smart enough to go to University and become a Librarian - tell that nasty voice in your head to piss off (cause quite frankly Librarians get paid way more than the Library Technician you became)...more

After another hundred pages of The Letter Q, I figured it out: I liked the specificity. The authors, actors, artists, and other creatives in this volume are addressing thI inhaled the first one hundred pages of this volume in one sitting, and then I was trying figure out why that was. Moreover, I was trying to figure out why I was enjoying this book so much more than It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living, which I anticipated loving... and then didn't.

After another hundred pages of The Letter Q, I figured it out: I liked the specificity. The authors, actors, artists, and other creatives in this volume are addressing their younger selves, caught in a specific moment, a specific place, a specific mindset.

Savage's collection, while admirable in its scope and intentions, seldom moves beyond stale platitudes of, "It gets better, kid, because look! I'm a big shiny adult, and I'm happy as fuck!" That's nice to hear, and the Youtube videos add a needed visual to those stories... but to a kid in the closet, it's almost patronizing.

Here, however, the audience of these letters is the kid in the closet. Do you play with the "wrong" toys? There's a letter for that.Do you wear the "wrong" clothes? There's a letter for that. Are you certain your parents will reject your honest self, and the pain is starting to feel unbearable? There's a letter for that. Have you been threatened with knives, or words like knives? There's a letter for that.

Okay, I'll stop now. But the point I'm trying to make is that by addressing the reservations, panic attacks, insecurities, and conflicts of their younger selves, the authors of this volume create greater specificity. They show young readers exactly what they've overcome, and trace out exactly where that got them, which is tremendously valuable when you haven't developed that voice for yourself yet (here's looking at YOU, Self-in-2010).

PS- You should still read It Gets Better, or check out the videos, or support the Trevor Project, or do any number of related things. There's still tremendous value there, for me and for my future classroom. ...more

3.5 stars. Perhaps it would have been a better experience if I hadn't wolfed down the book in two or three sittings, because at times the stories started feeling redundant. But all the pieces were heartfelt, many were beautifully written, and there are diverse voices in here, though a little more diversity is always a desirable improvement.

The comics were great, especially the ones by Lucy Knisley and Michael DiMotta. And I loved Diane DiMassa's piece for its grit and refusal to sugar coat adul3.5 stars. Perhaps it would have been a better experience if I hadn't wolfed down the book in two or three sittings, because at times the stories started feeling redundant. But all the pieces were heartfelt, many were beautifully written, and there are diverse voices in here, though a little more diversity is always a desirable improvement.

The comics were great, especially the ones by Lucy Knisley and Michael DiMotta. And I loved Diane DiMassa's piece for its grit and refusal to sugar coat adulthood. And there were plenty of lines in the essays that I would have highlighted if it weren't a library book.

One thing that I can't fault the book for but that distracted me nonetheless: the grandfather paradox. I kept worrying that the writers were divulging too much to their younger selves before remembering that time travel is still NOT POSSIBLE (and this book is probably more about reaching current teens/storytelling rather than an expression of what the authors actually wish they could have known back then). But just in case, if I had to send a letter, I think it would be really brief and vague. Like, "hey x - made it to 24. there is plenty of happiness for you here, and it's worth it." But even that feels like too much info. I think I watched too much TV growing up....more

This is a collection of letters, notes, and comic strips from sixty-four award-winning writers and illustrators such as Michael Cunningham, Terrence McNally, Amy Bloom, Armistead Maupin, David Leavitt, Christopher Rice, and Susan Stinson. Each of these “letters” are messages the authors have written to their younger selves to ease the bumpy road of growing up an lgbt youth, all in the tone of “It Gets Better.” They give bracingly honest reasons for young people to tough it out, and hold out forThis is a collection of letters, notes, and comic strips from sixty-four award-winning writers and illustrators such as Michael Cunningham, Terrence McNally, Amy Bloom, Armistead Maupin, David Leavitt, Christopher Rice, and Susan Stinson. Each of these “letters” are messages the authors have written to their younger selves to ease the bumpy road of growing up an lgbt youth, all in the tone of “It Gets Better.” They give bracingly honest reasons for young people to tough it out, and hold out for a better future.

These letters are written with unyielding perception, humor, and tenderness. Many of the letters are both eloquent and touching, reminding me of many of my own experiences growing up. They give a united voice of uplifting support of queer youth. I do wish I could have read this while growing through my teens.

I confess that I did not read all of these letters, simply because the themes are so repetitive it gets tiresome. Still I did read all my favorite authors, which many were represented here, and several writers I had not heard of before now, but will certainly read more of.

This book is a must read for any queer youth struggling to accept their sexuality or who are experiencing discrimination from the community. There is a clear and important message repeatedly banged like a bass drum, that queer kids are cool, and important, and just as worthy as anybody else. And the messages to tough it out, because it certainly does get better, is at their core all messages of hope, and of love. I highly recommend this book to all readers, young and old, queer and straight, sons, daughters, and parents....more

This collection of letters from LGBT writers to their younger selves is, for the most part, a fascinating and marvelous compilation. Infused with hope, these letters are projected as the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, many of them containing universal truths that stretch far beyond simply the measure of gay or straight. Serving as a reminder that each of the trials of adolescence will carve a path towards a full and enriched life, the messages confront the deeply personal struggles oThis collection of letters from LGBT writers to their younger selves is, for the most part, a fascinating and marvelous compilation. Infused with hope, these letters are projected as the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, many of them containing universal truths that stretch far beyond simply the measure of gay or straight. Serving as a reminder that each of the trials of adolescence will carve a path towards a full and enriched life, the messages confront the deeply personal struggles of each respective writer. As singular pieces, I admired the strength and conviction of many of the letters, as well as the hope and reassurance they may provide for others in similar situations— however, I have to admit that I found myself growing bored midway through. This collection, although both genuine and profound, suffered from a lack of variety: you can only hear the same story retold in so many ways before it begins to seem stale; despite my appreciation for these writers and their courageous admissions, by the end of the book it felt as though the letters had begun to meld together, eventually tarnishing the crisp sheen of individuality within each tale.

How do I even begin to write a review of this collection? No matter what I write it won't be enough to express the impact this The Letter Q had on me.

Every single letter in this collection was incredibly thoughtful, moving and most of all brave. These authors really put themselves out there. All their fears, struggles, confession - they didn't hold back. And I have a huge amount of respect for them. It couldn't have been easy for Julie Anne Peters to admit thaOriginally posted at Hooked on Books

How do I even begin to write a review of this collection? No matter what I write it won't be enough to express the impact this The Letter Q had on me.

Every single letter in this collection was incredibly thoughtful, moving and most of all brave. These authors really put themselves out there. All their fears, struggles, confession - they didn't hold back. And I have a huge amount of respect for them. It couldn't have been easy for Julie Anne Peters to admit that she sat in a park and thought about someone murdering her or for David Levithan to admit that he had bullied one of his teachers.

It also amazed me how young so many of them where when they began to realize they were gay/lesbian/bisexual. So often when the sex in YA debate comes up, you hear opponents claiming teens are too young to think about "that kind of stuff." But these letters prove that kids do have questions, and books, of all things, should make them think about these things instead of pushing them away.

For the rest of this review I just wanted to share some of my favourite passages from the collection and why they were so meaningful:

From Stacy D'Erasmo's letter: "You're just as you should be. All that desire is going to turn out to be your compass in life. You're going to fall in love with incredible women, incredible men and they are going to fall in love with you" (p. 53) --> Because that's all any of us want right? To know we will be loved.

From Erik Orrantia's letter: "sometimes things get worse before they get better, but they do get better" (p. 65). --> Maybe not the ideal, but will definitely stick with me when things are getting difficult. And remind me that there is always hope.

From Arthur A Levine's letter: "With books in particular you are drawn to stories where a person has hidden talents, unappreciated skills, a great destiny perhaps. Remember the name Harry Potter" (p. 82) ---> This was probably the passage I could most relate to. I'm sure many of us can. Harry Potter was truly something magical and inspirational.

From Gregory Maguire's letter: " You actually get PUBLISHED! And you get to be friends with some of your HEROES! Like oh not to name names but like MAURICE SENDAK! I know! I KNOW! SCREAMMM!" --> Reassured me that you can grow up and be successful and still totally be a fanboy/girl for the things you love. And you'll find other people who feel that way too.

From Brent Hartinger's letter: "but it's one of life's strange paradoxes that the only way to find true love is to be willing to risk being devastated by losing it. Who knew love was so much like a Star Trek episode?" (p. 187) --> For being honest yet inspirational. And refrencing Star Trek while doing so.

Whether GLBTQ or straight this book should be on your to-read list. Every school library should have a copy, or twelve. Letters like these can change lives. They can save lives.

Final recommendation: I think everyone should read this book. Even if you've never questioned your sexual orientation, this collection has the power to inspire you....more

What a wonderful idea for a book! Sixty-four authors and illustrators write letters to their younger selves, offering advice and inspiration. In a sort of "If I'd known then what I know now" fashion, the short entries offer insight into their lives as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered individuals. All are reminders that it does get better if you can just hold on. After all, high school is not life, and there is hope for everyone. Because the letters come from so many different creative spiWhat a wonderful idea for a book! Sixty-four authors and illustrators write letters to their younger selves, offering advice and inspiration. In a sort of "If I'd known then what I know now" fashion, the short entries offer insight into their lives as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered individuals. All are reminders that it does get better if you can just hold on. After all, high school is not life, and there is hope for everyone. Because the letters come from so many different creative spirits who represent different periods in modern history, teens today will be able to catch glimpses of how much things have changed, just over the past three decades. Many entries describe the writer's partner or husband or children, possibilities never considered a few years ago. Some of the entries (Paige Braddock) made me laugh so hard while others (Mayra Lazara Dole) broke my heart. Two particular favorites were written by Brian Selznick who actually wrote a letter to his future self when he was 13 and Arthur A. Levine who describes the different prejudices he faced when he was junior high. One author, David Levithan, even owns up to owing an apology to his science teacher, reminding readers that it is possible to be both a bully and someone being bullied. In the concluding letter, David Ebershoff describes burning the gay books he read one summer ("Evidence in black ink and cheap mass market pulp that your existence is worthy of print" (p. 264) in order to keep his sexual identity a secret. Although many of the authors won't be familiar to teen readers, several will, and reading their stories, told through text and drawings, is likely to expand their horizons and offer hope for the future. This is a wonderful collection of stories, not just for the queer or questioning teens in our lives, but all the humans in our circle of acquaintances. ...more

The title of this remarkable anthology says it all—a multitude of LGBT authors, more than sixty of them, have come together to tell themselves as young adults what they wish they had known back then. In doing so, they also are reaching out to today’s youth who are struggling with their sexual identities, letting them knoThe Letter Q:Queer Writers’ Notes To Their Younger SelvesSarah Moon, editorJames Lecesne, contributing editorArthur A. Levine Books, May 2012ISBN 978-0-545-39932-6Hardcover (ARC)

The title of this remarkable anthology says it all—a multitude of LGBT authors, more than sixty of them, have come together to tell themselves as young adults what they wish they had known back then. In doing so, they also are reaching out to today’s youth who are struggling with their sexual identities, letting them know they are not alone and others have felt the way they feel. Written for age 14 and up, the letters are honest, emotional and forthright, no holds barred. There are even practical suggestions for making one’s own life just a little bit easier.

Some of the writers involved will be a surprise to readers and some will not but that really doesn’t matter because the point of it all is to make the road just a little easier for the younger generation. The target audience is obvious but this is a book that can be appreciated just as much by those of us who are not LGBT because it gives us a small glimpse of what life is like for young adults who are unsure of themselves and those who ARE sure but are having difficulty finding a comfortable place in our world. One really important note is that this book will strike a chord with all teenagers who are struggling with issues of any kind, not just sexual identity.

Has this been done before? Perhaps it has but, if so, I haven’t seen it. The authors and editors and publisher involved all are to be commended for a fine idea executed brilliantly and with great compassion, so much that I was frequently brought to tears. I strongly recommend it for young adults and adults alike and especially would like to see it shelved in every school library. Lives can literally be saved.

Many of the letters to the authors' teen selves in The Letter Q knotted up my stomach and / or brought tears to my eyes. They write with an honesty that is at times poignant, and at other times, are funny and heartwarming. Although it's directed toward LGBT teens, I think readers of all ages and sexual orientations will enjoy this book, and of course, buying this book is sure to save lives. Why? Well, part of the profits will go toward the Trevor Project, the leading, national nonprofit organizaMany of the letters to the authors' teen selves in The Letter Q knotted up my stomach and / or brought tears to my eyes. They write with an honesty that is at times poignant, and at other times, are funny and heartwarming. Although it's directed toward LGBT teens, I think readers of all ages and sexual orientations will enjoy this book, and of course, buying this book is sure to save lives. Why? Well, part of the profits will go toward the Trevor Project, the leading, national nonprofit organization designed to provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning teens. Pick it up today to not only help lend your support for this wonderful organization, but also to read what it was like growing up for some of the most well-known LGBT writers, editors, comic writers, and illustrators....more

this compilation works so well because it's so personal and partly because they're all following a prompt - to write a letter to your younger self.

it was so interesting and enlightening to see how these writers thought of themselves, to see how they struggled, the love they have now (whether physical, emotional, or general) and to see at what age they choose to address themselves. at what point in their lives did they choose and for what rereally, smashingly, fantastic; often moved me to tears.

this compilation works so well because it's so personal and partly because they're all following a prompt - to write a letter to your younger self.

it was so interesting and enlightening to see how these writers thought of themselves, to see how they struggled, the love they have now (whether physical, emotional, or general) and to see at what age they choose to address themselves. at what point in their lives did they choose and for what reason?

despite the sadness and bullying and horror that's in these stories, it's still an amazingly uplifting book....more

I got picked up in a Metro station while I was trying to read this book. I had just finished what was an eleven-hour work day after pinch-hitting on my second job and after telling this (kind, very courteous) guy that I typically don’t read science fiction so his book recommendations were playing to deaf ears, I explained to him what “queer” meant. And why I feel that it’s a word we should use without tripping over it. This book does the rest.

I read It Gets Better around the same time last yearI got picked up in a Metro station while I was trying to read this book. I had just finished what was an eleven-hour work day after pinch-hitting on my second job and after telling this (kind, very courteous) guy that I typically don’t read science fiction so his book recommendations were playing to deaf ears, I explained to him what “queer” meant. And why I feel that it’s a word we should use without tripping over it. This book does the rest.

I read It Gets Better around the same time last year and I praised it for being shelved in the Young Adult section. So is The Letter Q. So that’s one book a year now. And maybe two or three supporting characters on network television. But at least those books exist and those television characters exist and maybe next it’ll be a movie character that’s actually complex and not a stereotype. And next time I’m reading “gay literature” and I get picked up on the Metro, I’ll have something else to talk about. ...more

Sarah Moon and James Lecesne enlisted award-winning lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender authors and illustrators for the creation of The Letter Q: Queer Writers’ Notes to their Younger Selves . The artists were asked to compose letters to their younger selves about the realities of being LGBT.

Located within the pages of this brilliant collection, the reader will find 64 provocative, illuminating, despondent, and inspiring tales of bravery and triumph. Each story touches upon many social issuSarah Moon and James Lecesne enlisted award-winning lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender authors and illustrators for the creation of The Letter Q: Queer Writers’ Notes to their Younger Selves . The artists were asked to compose letters to their younger selves about the realities of being LGBT.

Located within the pages of this brilliant collection, the reader will find 64 provocative, illuminating, despondent, and inspiring tales of bravery and triumph. Each story touches upon many social issues that teens are faced with daily, (i.e. unrequited love, pride, bullying, self-esteem, sexuality). This is not a collection of just Queer experiences. The growing pains explored are typical human experiences.

While reading the collection, I was habitually brought to tears. There is an honest wisdom in each letter. Young adult and adult readers of all sexual orientations will learn a lot from this work. I strongly recommend this collection....more

A spin-off from the "It Gets Better" project, this book is a collection of essays by GLBT writers who are writing letters of encouragement to their younger selves. While the concept is interesting, and many of these are really great, there are a LOT of them. I literally started getting bored about half way through and began skimming through an essay to see if it was more-of-the-same or worth reading more carefully.

This is the kind of book that saves lives. This is a must read for anyone who has every struggled with any aspect of their identity, particularly their sexual orientation. It is a compilation of letters that queer writers wrote to their younger selves, and it is truly fantastic. I recommend getting this book for yourself, or for anyone who is struggling, or has just come out, or is confused and miserable. You can read from start to finish, or you can jump around from author to author, either wayThis is the kind of book that saves lives. This is a must read for anyone who has every struggled with any aspect of their identity, particularly their sexual orientation. It is a compilation of letters that queer writers wrote to their younger selves, and it is truly fantastic. I recommend getting this book for yourself, or for anyone who is struggling, or has just come out, or is confused and miserable. You can read from start to finish, or you can jump around from author to author, either way works just fine. I've read this more than once, and each time I read it I appreciate it more than the last time. I've never read it without both laughing, crying, and wanting to hug each and every one of the authors. This deserves so much more than five stars--at least two or three hundred. Thank you so much for creating this book!...more

Honest, encouraging, humorous, loving, sincere -- this collection of letters by queer writers captures why it's beautiful to be alive. The diversity of the authors featured in terms of age, race, sexual orientation, and gender identity is also refreshing.

Uplifting letters from authors to their younger selves. These letters cover everything from self-acceptance, keep pursuing your dream because it will happen, to stop being a bully and hanging out in parks at night. For every kid who thought they were weird, different or didn't know where they fit in this shows that it does indeed get better. I also like the idea of writing to yourself, one of the authors actually wrote a letter to his older self when he was 13 then stumbled upon it later and useUplifting letters from authors to their younger selves. These letters cover everything from self-acceptance, keep pursuing your dream because it will happen, to stop being a bully and hanging out in parks at night. For every kid who thought they were weird, different or didn't know where they fit in this shows that it does indeed get better. I also like the idea of writing to yourself, one of the authors actually wrote a letter to his older self when he was 13 then stumbled upon it later and used it when writing his piece in this book. What an amazing find and what a great idea. To see where you are in 10-20-30 years and look back on what you thought was important to ask at that time....more

The Letter Q is a simple premise, but effective. Writers of all sorts send notes back to themselves as when they were in middle school or high school. The emotion and information provided is intense and will be most appreciated by teens. I don't know if teens will pick this up by themselves, but perhaps if you leave it laying around, they will thumb through it......and perhaps, they will draw some comfort from those who have been there that it gets better. That is really all we can do....and honThe Letter Q is a simple premise, but effective. Writers of all sorts send notes back to themselves as when they were in middle school or high school. The emotion and information provided is intense and will be most appreciated by teens. I don't know if teens will pick this up by themselves, but perhaps if you leave it laying around, they will thumb through it......and perhaps, they will draw some comfort from those who have been there that it gets better. That is really all we can do....and honestly, wouldn't it be amazing if we could really send ourselves a note of encouragement back when we really could have used it most?...more

This book was one of my favorites. Just being able to see all the stories from LGBTQ adults was inspiring. It puts a sense of hope within your heart. Some of them tell the stories of what they feel and others tell the stories of what they went through to get to where they are today. This is a truly amazing book. I would recommend this to anyone, even if you aren't LGBTQ or an ally...maybe it would open your eyes to what they go through and what they have went through all their lives. I'm so gladThis book was one of my favorites. Just being able to see all the stories from LGBTQ adults was inspiring. It puts a sense of hope within your heart. Some of them tell the stories of what they feel and others tell the stories of what they went through to get to where they are today. This is a truly amazing book. I would recommend this to anyone, even if you aren't LGBTQ or an ally...maybe it would open your eyes to what they go through and what they have went through all their lives. I'm so glad that Sarah Moon had the idea to put this book together. This book just may have made my life a little bit better....more

For the most part I enjoyed reading the letters in this book, especially the inclusion of the graphic novel style ones; however, as I was reading one after another, several seemed repetitious. On the one hand, this is great as it shows that even though they felt they were alone in their experiences, there were others who were feeling and experiencing the same. On the other hand, this made for a somewhat boring read at times.

Additionally, many of the writers are not names that would be known to tFor the most part I enjoyed reading the letters in this book, especially the inclusion of the graphic novel style ones; however, as I was reading one after another, several seemed repetitious. On the one hand, this is great as it shows that even though they felt they were alone in their experiences, there were others who were feeling and experiencing the same. On the other hand, this made for a somewhat boring read at times.

Additionally, many of the writers are not names that would be known to the intended audience - teenagers. I would imagine that the impact of reading about a beloved author's experience would be more powerful than reading about strangers.

Didn't finish, such a mixed bag. The letters by authors and artists I love were predictably fabulous (Erika Moen, Michael Cunningham), and it was sweet to read their reflections about their younger selves, but really I think this book is marketing itself falsely. I got two thirds through without a singe letter by a trans person, at which point I gave up. If you're going to exclude trans people, just say that your book is for LGB people. Otherwise I will get the rages. Which I did. If you can't eDidn't finish, such a mixed bag. The letters by authors and artists I love were predictably fabulous (Erika Moen, Michael Cunningham), and it was sweet to read their reflections about their younger selves, but really I think this book is marketing itself falsely. I got two thirds through without a singe letter by a trans person, at which point I gave up. If you're going to exclude trans people, just say that your book is for LGB people. Otherwise I will get the rages. Which I did. If you can't even be bothered to tokenize one trans author by putting them in the first half of the book, then you really are not trying at all. I should have known when the goodreads description used the word "Transgendered" in their description.

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

This isn't a novel at all. It's a collection of letters by queer authors to their younger selves. The book was produced because every young person identifying as queer has a right to know that their situation of feel lost, alone or misunderstood isn't unique - there's someone out there that can understand.

I enjoyed it because it had so many emanThis review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

This isn't a novel at all. It's a collection of letters by queer authors to their younger selves. The book was produced because every young person identifying as queer has a right to know that their situation of feel lost, alone or misunderstood isn't unique - there's someone out there that can understand.

I enjoyed it because it had so many emanations with my teenage years, and it's always pleasing to read about other success stories.

Another thing is that I often read short story collections to find new authors whose writing style agrees with me. Those are just letters, but the authors hint enough about themselves that I can tentatively pick ones that I'd buy books to try.

I initially picked up this novel because one of my favourite authors, Julie Anne Peters, has a contribution in it. I'd also already encountered Erika Moen from her comic, DAR.

I had fun trying to pick whether the writer was male or female in each case where it wasn't immediately obvious. A weird thing to do when the authors are all queer and any sexuality or gender could be presented. I didn't do this in a judgemental way, just in an interested way.

If you're queer, you're questioning, you just want to understand more about what queer people go through, this could be a good novel for you to read....more

This was a vey powerful and interesting book, containing letters that chosen LGBTQ writers wish they could have sent to their younger selves. Unfortunately, I think I read the letters in exactly the wrong order. I made a beeline for an essay written by someone I actually knew when we were both teenagers. Her letter gave me goosebumps and stirred up all kinds of bittersweet emotions when I thought of how we both share this experience of having been small-town queer youth--in the same town--but weThis was a vey powerful and interesting book, containing letters that chosen LGBTQ writers wish they could have sent to their younger selves. Unfortunately, I think I read the letters in exactly the wrong order. I made a beeline for an essay written by someone I actually knew when we were both teenagers. Her letter gave me goosebumps and stirred up all kinds of bittersweet emotions when I thought of how we both share this experience of having been small-town queer youth--in the same town--but were too terrified to talk about it at the time.

After that roller coaster, any other entry was going to seem emotionally flat. Most of the letters were insightful and powerful, but after a while a lot of them started to sound the same. One thing that surprised me about the book--and this isn't necessarily a criticism; it's more of an observation--is that the letters were written by people who as adults are a very diverse group. But the message of almost all the letters is very similar: Hang in there; it will get better.

That's an important thing to tell a questioning kid, and I would be sure to say that to my younger self if I got the chance because it was absolutely true for me. But I would also use that opportunity to grab myself by my wide 1980s lapels, give myself a good shake, and tell myself to stop with the angst and just come out already. I was kind of surprised at how easy most of the authors went on themselves. Am I the only gay adult who thinks I could have done a slightly better job with the questioning process? I'm not saying this self-criticism is healthy; I'm just surprised it isn't more pervasive....more

I think the idea for this book was great on paper, but the execution not so great. Aiming the letters at an audience that will never actually read them (their younger selves) seems pointless when they could be talking directly to the real audience about their experiences. There is a lot of cryptic language, references to things only their younger self would know that aren't really explained, and it gets quite annoying. But mainly, the letters feel very repetitive, the same sort of advice over anI think the idea for this book was great on paper, but the execution not so great. Aiming the letters at an audience that will never actually read them (their younger selves) seems pointless when they could be talking directly to the real audience about their experiences. There is a lot of cryptic language, references to things only their younger self would know that aren't really explained, and it gets quite annoying. But mainly, the letters feel very repetitive, the same sort of advice over and over again delivered in the same sort of voice. I did like the comics though. As far as a book of experiences aimed at LGBT youth, I thought The Full Spectrum was much better. I'm not gay or lesbian, but I am genderqueer (and this book had very little T despite being LGBT) and asexual with a romantic affinity for all genders, so I'm not alien to homoromantic feelings. The letters were also written mainly from people who were professionals in some creative field, and so it's easy to guarantee their younger selves are going to have success in arts, but its sort of useless sentiment to the reader without confidence there. But there's no harm in tossing another book into the ring, and if someone gets something important from it, then it can be considered successful....more

The ‘Dear Me’ series of books all started with a letter written by Stephen Fry to his sixteen-year-old self in Attitude magazine. The books took the concept and extended it to a host of mid-level celebrities. Some are wonderful, some are pointless, some are surprising. My favourites, unsurprisingly, are those from the gay celebrities–I may be biased, but it feels like their letters contained the most hope, the most advice, and were the most ‘necessary’. And now we have The Letter Q, edited by SaThe ‘Dear Me’ series of books all started with a letter written by Stephen Fry to his sixteen-year-old self in Attitude magazine. The books took the concept and extended it to a host of mid-level celebrities. Some are wonderful, some are pointless, some are surprising. My favourites, unsurprisingly, are those from the gay celebrities–I may be biased, but it feels like their letters contained the most hope, the most advice, and were the most ‘necessary’. And now we have The Letter Q, edited by Sarah Moon, and containing the letters of a whole host of American LGBT writers, some of whom I have heard of (David Levithan, Brent Hartinger, Michael Cunningham, David Leavitt, Armistead Maupin), some of whom I have not. And so I present my review in the form of a letter:

Dear Sixteen-Year-Old Me,

I’m sending you this book to help you out. You know you’re gay, and I think you’re somewhere past the point where marrying a woman and keeping your mouth shut for the rest of your life seems like a good option. You don’t actually know what your option is going to be, but you’re about to get a kicking from first love, so everything’s about to become very very clear and very very confusing.

Why will this book help you out? Because it contains hope. Because it contains the words of forty people who’ve experienced the same thing as you. Listen to them talk: listen to the care in their voices when they talk to themselves at a younger age. They know the pain you and they experienced, they know the awkward separation, the feeling of simply not being able to be the same no matter how hard you try. Why fix all the other things that set you apart when there will always be on simple thing?

And here’s what every single one of them says: you will find love. You will be joyful. You will be hurt, but it will make you stronger. You will live, and it will be wild, and it will be unpredictable, and it will work out. You will be happy.

And maybe this is the forte of writers (but after all, that’s what you’ve wanted to be since you stapled together your ramshackle novels at age six) but heed how many of them tell you that it is the otherness that makes them special, that makes them write, that makes them capable of seeing and understanding human behaviour, sympathising and transforming. They all took what they thought was a weakness, and turned it into a strength.

Hold onto it, and love this book, like I did.

I’ll write again soon, with a little more useful information, but in the meantime, let this be your guide.

Why I picked it up: interesting idea. And one of the letters is from David Levithan, who I am currently in book love with.

Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual writers were asked to write letters to their younger selves. There are writers of all types here: novels, editors, playwrights, essayists, and cartoonists. And outside the scope of this book, they write for many different age groups.I enjoyed it. Some letters were funny, some were sad, and some made you just want to hug random teenagers in hopes youWhy I picked it up: interesting idea. And one of the letters is from David Levithan, who I am currently in book love with.

Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual writers were asked to write letters to their younger selves. There are writers of all types here: novels, editors, playwrights, essayists, and cartoonists. And outside the scope of this book, they write for many different age groups.I enjoyed it. Some letters were funny, some were sad, and some made you just want to hug random teenagers in hopes you end up finding one who needs it. (Yes, I know this is a bad idea. I’m not actually going to do it, just saying that there was an emotional response to some letters.) I had not heard of many of the writers. There are little mini bios in the back of the book. Especially good in small chunks, reading just one or two stories at a time. Funniest part: a writer tells her younger self, who I would guess to be in the 1970s, to start working on a vampire story “because vampires may come back into fashion some day.”

Please note that I read an Advance Reader Copy of this book and the published book may differ. According to the promo on the back, more authors will be included in the final book.

The Letter Q is a poignant collection of countless letters from several LGBT authors to their younger selves holding hope, wisdom and hindsight. The book is beautifully bound, its pages smooth and able to withstand time and tears. The short letters invite the reader into the heads and personal lives of not the children these authors were but also the adults they have become. While many of the letters entreat their younger selves not to give in, not to give up and not to capitulate to what societThe Letter Q is a poignant collection of countless letters from several LGBT authors to their younger selves holding hope, wisdom and hindsight. The book is beautifully bound, its pages smooth and able to withstand time and tears. The short letters invite the reader into the heads and personal lives of not the children these authors were but also the adults they have become. While many of the letters entreat their younger selves not to give in, not to give up and not to capitulate to what society demands of them, there are also some, such as Levithan’s (which was a particular favourite of mine) that portray an awareness in self, a growth that is heartwarming.

What the Letter Q offers young children is priceless. The book is physical proof that the child/teenager questioning his/her sexuality, sexual orientation is not alone, that whatever questions, whatever experiences he or she is going through at the moment, others have also gone through and more than that, they have survived and survived successfully at that. This is the kind of reassurance that is invaluable to a child who is much more vulnerable to attacks and fears.

If you are an adult reading this review, I recommend that you buy this novel for any young person because whether or not they are sexually confused, reading this novel will give them an insight to the thoughts and feelings of children who often cannot find the voice to express themselves. I found this to be touching, sad and yes, hopeful. I recommend this to everyone....more

When I picked up THE LETTER Q: Queer Writers' Notes to Their Younger Selves, I was super excited to have another book to add to my QUILTBAG list. I love sharing books that can change someone's life and THE LETTER Q looked very promising. The list of authors on the front (beautifully designed by Chip Kidd) included big names like Armistead Maupin, Gregory Maguire, and Jacqueline Woodson.

What lay inside lived up to the promise of that off-pink, off-blue cover. Each writer's letter is personal, butWhen I picked up THE LETTER Q: Queer Writers' Notes to Their Younger Selves, I was super excited to have another book to add to my QUILTBAG list. I love sharing books that can change someone's life and THE LETTER Q looked very promising. The list of authors on the front (beautifully designed by Chip Kidd) included big names like Armistead Maupin, Gregory Maguire, and Jacqueline Woodson.

What lay inside lived up to the promise of that off-pink, off-blue cover. Each writer's letter is personal, but contains universal advice. Not just about love and perseverance - but telling their younger self to quit smoking and to not hang out in parks at night and to trust their instincts. THE LETTER Q can get repetitive if you read it all at once, but it's just right when you space the letters out and see just how each of these authors made it out of their childhood. And as for the advice, my favorite bit came from Jewelle Gomez: "Maybe you should think about writing vampire stories, they might come back into fashion someday (133, ARC)."

I liked that THE LETTER Q showcased a wide range of voices, allowing for a fuller picture of LGBQ life. Sadly, the trans* voice is lost in this collection. But there are black, Hispanic, and Asian voices, struggling with two kinds of marginalization. There are older voices, including people who weren't able to come out until middle age. There are younger voices that grew up in a more tolerant time. There are children's book authors, young adult authors, and literary fiction authors. There are playwrights, comic artists, and memoir writers.

One of THE LETTER Q's greatest strengths is the way it serves as an introductory text. I've talked to many people about Alison Bechdel's FUN HOME and how it led them to seek out the books she discusses in the text. THE LETTER Q contains writing from dozens of authors. Many who read THE LETTER Q will be inspired to pick up other works by those authors. It's a bit of a who's who of queer lit....more

What would you write if you could send a letter to your young adult self? This question is explored in The Letter Q: Queer Writers’ Notes to their Younger Selves as sixty-four LGBT authors, including Michael Cunningham and Amy Bloom, create an anthology of letters written to themselves as teenagers. While each letter is unique and distinctive, the collection as a whole discusses topics such as: exploring self-identity, the sometimes painful process of coming out, and encouragement and hope for bWhat would you write if you could send a letter to your young adult self? This question is explored in The Letter Q: Queer Writers’ Notes to their Younger Selves as sixty-four LGBT authors, including Michael Cunningham and Amy Bloom, create an anthology of letters written to themselves as teenagers. While each letter is unique and distinctive, the collection as a whole discusses topics such as: exploring self-identity, the sometimes painful process of coming out, and encouragement and hope for bright futures ahead. Some authors write letters that are nostalgic and humorous as they discuss memorable moments from their adolescence, a well-remembered love for Barbara Streisand’s Broadway albums for example. Other letters take on a more serious tone with discussions of bullying or teenage self-loathing. Despite the variety of moods present in this anthology, the collective message found in the text is hopeful and reassuring with promises of happy adulthood in a more tolerant society. In addition to content, the letters are also unique in format. While the majority of entries consist of traditional letters, others are written in free verse or graphic novel form. This anthology of unsent letters makes for an emotional read that is heartwarming at times while tearful at others. Written in a conversational tone, The Letter Q is an honest and endearing read about courage and self-acceptance that will appeal to both teen and adult readers....more

I really enjoyed reading this book-- so much that I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness as I turned the final page.

The letters are well-written-- besides, these are writers (and illustrators), this is their element. They are also witty, sad, thoughtful, joyful-- but most of all, heart-felt. Though I'm not 100% sure that today's queer teens coming-out (or not coming-out) will see themselves in this book (they're in the thick of junior high/high school), I feel that 'The Letter Q' covers tI really enjoyed reading this book-- so much that I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness as I turned the final page.

The letters are well-written-- besides, these are writers (and illustrators), this is their element. They are also witty, sad, thoughtful, joyful-- but most of all, heart-felt. Though I'm not 100% sure that today's queer teens coming-out (or not coming-out) will see themselves in this book (they're in the thick of junior high/high school), I feel that 'The Letter Q' covers the coming-of-age aspect really well. The nagging thing at the back of my mind is that the letters are written by the ones who 'made it'-- what about the ones who didn't? It also doesn't exactly address how to deal with day-to-day bullying, but it does offer reassurance and hope.

You don't have to identify as LGBTQ to understand this book. If you have ever been bullied, felt like a misfit, felt isolated from the herd, or felt like you've hit rock-bottom in your life, you will resonate with the stories in 'The Letter Q'....more